Rey watched him walk away, ducking under the cordon, past the guys in armor that kept nervously glancing in her direction, further into the main hall of the casino. Would he turn to look? She lost sight of him for a moment, her view blocked by various beings. There he was again, still moving away. Then behind a droid. A glimpse of the back of his head. And then he was gone, lost in the crowds.

He was gone.

Of course he was gone. They all leave.

And she's in the desert again.

A hot dry wind on her face, a hand on her arm.

Squinting into the sun. Watching her entire world fly away, higher and higher.

She can't move. She can't breathe.

5 years old and she doesn't understand.

She just doesn't fucking understand why they won't stay but it has to be her fault, it has to be something she's done because if she was good then they would love her and they'd stay, they'd stay and hold her and tell her it would all be ok, not leave her all alone and so, so scared.

Everyone leaves. She doesn't deserve them. She's known ever since she stood on a dune and watched a ship disappear into the desert sky that she doesn't deserve a life lived with love and peace and laughter and people that care, people to share these things with. There must be something dark and broken in her that pushes them all away. Something that can't be fixed. A bloodline, a destiny she could never escape even though she tried so hard, and ran so very far. She even changed her name, not that it makes any difference when she knows all too well what she is.

She's crying, she realizes and turns away quickly to the view over the town. Did they see? Legends don't cry.

Get your shit together girl. It's for the best. Absolutely. Too many sleepless nights worrying about getting him killed on one of these ridiculous missions. It had been too close a couple of times now. That would have been too much. It would have pushed her so far over the edge there would have been nothing left of her.

So why had she tried to keep him with that absurd sex thing? Because one day it has to come up all hearts, right? Wouldn't it have been good to come back to the shuttle after completing another assignment, Finn waiting for her with a quip, a cheeky smile, a massage and (oh yes) more? Nice dream, you fucking idiot. And a ridiculous, selfish waste of his talents. He was smart to leave this wreck behind.

Anyway, she's with Ben, their destinies entwined forever, joined by the Force. Their connection refusing to be bound by space and time and even death itself. She walks with him, two paths made one, leading her along a road that she cannot escape, even if she had the courage to try. Who is she to deny the Force?

But still, if only he could have stayed.

Now she's alone again, as it should be, as it always is eventually. She knows all about alone, about numbing yourself to the days and weeks and years of living with something that's missing but still cuts as deep as a saber.

Finn's gone, so deal with it. It's a net positive; watching out for him had been a source of considerable stress and distraction and you don't have to deal with that any more. Let's take in this fabulous sunrise and focus on our breathing. Legends and heroes don't let it all go to shit over something like this. They learn their lessons, put it behind them, stay focused on the task at hand and rise to the challenge. And Rey Skywalker is nothing if not a legend and a hero. So act like it. Tuck that sniveling little five-year old away somewhere dark and forgotten and be the fucking legend. Be the hero everyone expects. You have the love and admiration of billions, and that's worth something isn't it? Let's bask in that sunlight even if all the people you love and respect are gone. The galaxy is watching, as always.

Was that police guy on a speeder actually trying to take a selfie with her in the background? The fucking nerve. She levelled her index finger at him and cocked her thumb up.

"Peew."

The front stabilizer of the speeder crumpled and immediately threw it into a rapid downwards spiral towards the streets below, the pilot clinging to his vehicle in desperation. She leaned over the balustrade to see the craft smash into a cobbled street, fortunately empty thanks to the early hour. The pilot was thrown clear, sprawled on his back. She watched until she saw one arm move slowly. No fatal harm done then. Probably. A bit naughty, but rather satisfying.

She needed to get out of here, get back on track, back on the mission: the second half of Tantalus. The Council would expect results. The New Glory would bring a new era of stability to the galaxy, and it was all on her, or so they kept telling her.

She couldn't go back to the suite - that would take her thoughts in all the wrong directions - so it's to her ship. She must look a mess, she realized, but there was little that could be done about that. Were heroes and the most awesome babes in the galaxy allowed to let it all go once in a while? How was a legend supposed to look after a night out? Better than this. Tidy the hair, adjust the top, chin high, don't stop and act like you own the fucking place.

Rey turned and marched away from the balcony, towards the casino. A combination of fear and indecision rooted the guards to the spot, and they made no attempt to impede her. She severed the security tape with the Force and strode into the gaming area, which by now was mercifully occupied only by a scattering of staff and police. She felt eyes upon her but didn't acknowledge them, keeping her gaze focused on the route towards the speed-link that would take her to Corusca Resort's private spaceport.

Finn squeezed into the transport just before the doors slid shut, shoving forwards to ensure his two large kit bags weren't caught and eliciting mumbles of disapproval from neighboring passengers. Breathing hard, he relaxed and leant against the glass as the shuttle started to glide out of the terminus, feeling a tingle of anticipation in his fingertips, a tremor of excitement in his gut. A galaxy beckoned and with it a chance to make good on plans and schemes. A new life.

He closed his eyes and saw locks of dark hair falling across teary eyes and lips forced into an uncertain smile. The image pierced his heart, unexpected and sharp. Stop. Leave it, put it aside. It's hard, yes, but who said doing the right thing would be easy? He opened his eyes to squint into the sun as the transport emerged from the underground complex and into the day, and smiled in spite of himself. The future was bright.

Rey strode forwards across the open expanse of the spaceport, dazzlingly bright under the morning sun, the elegant white curves of the Beltane before her, the remains of another overly officious droid behind. The question of whether it had been legally sentient and any possible penalties were pushed from her mind; it shouldn't have been so picky about exit slot bookings. Concierge services at the Corusca were nothing if not efficient, and her luggage had already been delivered, the ship smoothly loading the collection of cases as she approached.

Detecting her presence, the craft opened a portal in its side, thousands of seamless panels disengaging and retreating in an elaborately choreographed swirl to reveal a previously invisible entrance. The doorway formed a dark circle against the glare of daylight reflecting from the ship's alabaster surface, hiding the unlit interior in shadows. Rey advanced without hesitation, stepping through to leave the light behind, the portal closing with a soft hiss as the ship swallowed her.

She stood in silence, allowing the blackness to envelop her, the way ahead obscured in the moments before her eyes adjusted, but aware that her path was certain nonetheless. It felt inevitable, a way that had called to her during so many sleepless, lonely nights filled with self-hate and doubt, promising her a release from the pain. The darkness welcomed her with an embrace as old as the Force itself.